MORE THOUGHTS ON GETTING BACK TO THE WORK

Things are improving. The walking approach has helped. The "writing questions to my characters" and letting their answers start the engine of the plot again has helped.

However, after my various school visits, the thought of writing the whole Tome Two Task feels daunting. So daunting that I had to get my IT Expert to remove the cover of Tome One from its place as my screensaver!

So I have lately developed a sneaky, crafty approach.I have begun creeping up on the damn thing unexpectedly, so the Tome doesn't have time to grow to its full scary size.

I wander to the key-board, having left, for example, the supper simmering on the stove. I scroll down the already opened m/s. Suddenly, with a few swift strokes, I've snuck in a phrase or two, got the intended scene started after all. A few lines, and the thing has started to come to life again. Now what's that scent of burnt risotto?

GOING WALKIES!

The end of the World Book Day Travelling Circus circus is arriving, and I am longing to get back to Tome Two. I can feel this latest book lurking in my head again, ready to start speaking to me. I have 25,000 valid words there so far, but I have decided to do something different to get back into the thing. I am going to help Tome Two along by taking it for a walk each day.

Things have started well. Tome has been something that snuffled grouchily in the corner while I wetn out bringing in money. Now it has started to run about a little, show an interest in its general surroundings, make various noises of approval or delight. Yes, being almost eager again.

For example, yesterday, Tome spotted a new character in the distance. Today he raced right up to this personage, and showed me exactly how & why this new friend is needed in the plot. It all feels very promising - and in this surreal world, there's no hanging about by trees or carrying unmentionable plastic bags either.

I just hope his bark will grow loud enough to keep me walking the pavements and writing the words.

NOW JUST CLICK HERE . . .

Today I'm struggling with technology. It's such slow learning that it makes real writing seem fast. Made even worse by the fact that children of ten can probably deal with all this with speed, wit and giggles. I'm battling with transfering images from one place to another, and with nothing arriving where it should. So, as Resident IT Guru is not available, I am stuck.

Enough to make me get back to Tome Two and the To Outline or Not To Outline Question . . .

SWINGS OR ROUNDABOUTS?

So much for my hopes for almost daily blogging! Whatever happened to the last two weeks? I have spent these days whirling from one school to another, moving from one group of children to another, very much enjoying my round of World Book Day celebrations, despite some too-early-and-frosty mornings. Thank heavens for the support of my satnav:I do love pressing that "Go Home" button at the end of the day.

But even while I'm out trying to show that making stories is fun, there's always a slight tension I have to deal with: the writing! When I'm putting all my energies into visits, I find it impossible to do any proper writing work. And, annoyingly, just as I thought I'd cracked the tangle in Tome Two and was making progress. Swings or roundabouts?

But my happy news is that something exciting is coming in the post . . .

A ONCE AND FUTURE BOOK WEEK

Its World Book Day week, and I had a suitably exciting moment yesterday. I discovered that "A Boy Called Mouse" has appeared on the amazon site, giving the publication date as 4th October 2010, the very start of the UK October 2010 Book Week. Not sure if that means that Mouse will stand out or be carried along in a deluge of autumn books. With luck, the first option!

It has been a very long wait, but day by day everything inches closer. Must give some thought about how to celebrate that 4th October, as I have never arranged any publication party before for my books. However,"no cover image is yet available", so I am still longing to see the final cover design.

I have also heard back from Wise Agent, who was very encouraging about the pages of Tome Two I'd sent her. She wants to know how my two main characters meet, which may be agent-speak for "Do get a move on with the thing, Penny!"

Not this week though, as I'm out four days of five and one evening at a local Battle of the Books. No time for owt that's truly writerly at all.

Happy travelling wherever you roam, all you visiting authors!